Rodent trap

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided which is attached to the open end of a container such as an empty tin can to provide a rodent trap. The apparatus comprises a cover having an opening and a closure for the opening which is releasably held in open position on the container by a latch having a release mechanism within the container. When a rodent enters the container it pulls a bait holder tripping the release mechanism, and causing the cover to be moved to a position closing the opening.

United States Patent 1 3,729,852 Holmes 1 1] May 1, 1973 RODENT TRAP [76] Inventor: Stannard D. Holmes, Box 331, Primary Examiner -Hugh chamblee Naranjito RR Attorney-Scr1vener Parker Scrivener and Clarke [22] Filed: May 14, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 143,442 An apparatus is provided which is attached to the I open end of a container such as an empty tin can to [52] Us Cl 43/6] provide a rodent trap. The apparatus comprises a [51] In} .Cl .X6I;1.1..23/18 cover having an p g and a closure for the p g 43/61 which is releasably held in open position on the conle 0 care miner y a latch having a release mechanism Within 56 R f C1 d the container. When a rodent enters the container it e erences I e pulls a bait holder tripping the reiease mechanism, and UNITED STATES PATENTS causing the cover to be moved to a position closing the opening. 2,437,020 3/1948 Ford ..43/61 1,326,662 12/1919 Kampfe 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented May 1', 1973 3,729,852

I'NVENT OR S'IAunmo D. H o LMES ATTORNEY5 RODENT TRAP DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the apparatus provided by the invention, and I FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus attached to an empty open-end container to provide a trap for rodents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an apparatus which may be easily installed on any open-end container, such as an empty can, to provide a trap for rodents such as rats and mice. A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 1 of the drawings and in FIG. 2 is shown as applied to an empty can 2 having a closed end 4 and an open end 6.

The apparatus provided by the invention comprises an annular part having a cylindrical wall 12 and an end wall 14, the wall 12 being of such internal diameter that it will snugly fit over the open end of the can 2. The end wall 14 has a relatively large opening 16 therein defined by an arcuate edge flange 18 extending through approximately 270 of arc and a wall 20 defined by the inner surface of the peripheral wall 12 and a chord 22 connecting the ends of the edge flange 18. This opening 16 provides an entry into the can through which a rodent can pass.

Two diametrically spaced lugs 24, 26 are provided on the free edges of the cylindrical wall 12, and provide means by which a rubber band 28 may be trained over' these and passed about the closed end of the can to releaseably hold the cap 10 on the open end of the can.

Means are provided by the invention for closing the access opening 16 in the cap closure after entry of a rodent into the can. Such means comprise a flat door or closure 30 which has the same shape as the opening 16 in the cap closure 10, but may be somewhat larger in all dimensions, and which has an arcuate edge 32 and a straight edge 34 which correspond, respectively, to the arcuate edge flange 18 and the chord edge 22 which bound the opening 16. This closure is pivotally mounted on the outer surface of the part 14 of the end closure member 10 on a pin 35 which extends outwardly therefrom, the parts being so positioned and arranged that the closure may be moved about its pivotal support from the open position shown in FIG. 2 to a closed position covering the opening 16. A lug 36 is provided on the outer surface of the closure 30 and a second lug 38 is provided on the outer surface of end wall part 28, and these lugs are so positioned and related that a rubber band 40 trained over them and passing beneath the pivot pin 35 will constantly urge the closure member to closed position covering the opening 16.

Means are provided by the invention for normally holding the closure 30 in open position and for releasing such means to cause the rubber band 40 to move the closure member to closed position when a rodent enters the can. Such means comprise, first, a narrow opening 50 in end wall 20 extending at right angles to chord edge 22, which opening receives a lug 52 which extends inwardly from the inner surface of the closure member 30 and the lower surface of which provides a bearing surface inside and at right angles to wall 20. At one side of opening 50 and on the inner surface of wall 20 there are two spaced parallel lugs 54, 56 which extend at right angles to wall 20 and are provided with aligned holes. A trip lever 60 is associated with these described parts and comprises an elongated straight part 62 which extends rearwardly from the end closure 10 into the can, a cross piece 64 at right angles to part 62 and which extends through the holes in lugs 54, 56 and a turned end 66 extending at right angles to cross piece 64 to engage the lower surface of lug 52 when the cover 30 is in open position. A bait holder 70 of new and improved construction is mounted on the inner, free end of the elongated straight part 62 of rod 60 and comprises a piece of sheet metal or other suitable flat material bent to V-shape and having a lug 72 on one of its parts in which there is a hole through which the rod 62 is passed. The parts of the bait holder which form the V-shaped body are perforated and a bait may be placed between them to beheld thereby.

When it is desired to use the apparatus provided by the invention in order to make a trap for rodents, an empty open end container, such as a usual tin can, is selected. The annular part 12 of the apparatus is then placed about the open end of the can and is held thereon by engaging a rubber band over the lugs 24, 26 and passing it about the closed end 4 of the can as shown in FIG. 2. A second rubber band 40 is then placed over the lugs 36, 38 which are on the cover 30 and the end wall 20, respectively, and the rubber band is passed below the pivot pin 35, and it will be seen that this rubber band constantly urges the closure 30 to closed position. The closure is raised to the open position shown in FIG. 2 and in this position lug 52 on the closure is positioned at the upper end of recess 50 in end wall 20, and is held in this position by the upturned end 66 of the rod 60 which engages the lower surface of lug 52. The bait holder 70 is now within the can, the closure is open and is held in that position by engagement between the part 66 of rod 60 and the lug 52. When a rodent enters the can and is withinit, it pulls the'bait holder 70 and trips the release mechanism by lifting the rod 60, thereby removing upturned end 66 of the rod from lug 52, releasing the closure 30 and permitting the rubber band 40 to pull the closure about pivot pin 35 into closed position.

The annular part 10 of the apparatus provided by the invention is provided with two external spaced lugs 80, 82 which extend radially therefrom and are so positioned that when the trapis in operative position the lugs hold the cylindrical assembly from rolling.

lclaim:

l. A trap for rodents comprising a hollow container having a closed end and an open end, an annular device surrounding the container and partially closing the open end thereof to leave an opening therein giving access to the interior of the container, a pivoted closure for the opening in the annular device, resilient means constantly urging the closure to a position closing the opening, a latch device normally holding the closure in open position against the force of the resilient means, and means within the container positioned to be engaged by a rodent therein and operable upon such engagement to release the latch to permit the resilient means to move the closure to its position closing said opening, said annular device having an elongated opening leading from the access opening therein, and a lug on the closure positioned to enter the elongated opening when the closure is in open position to be engaged by the latch to hold the closure in open position.

2. A trap according to claim 1, in which the latch device comprises an elongated rod within the container, a bait holder on the inner end of the rod, a cross piece extending at right angles to the rod and pivotally mounted on the annular device to permit vertical movement of the rod and bait holder, and an upturned end on the cross piece positioned and adapted to engage the lug.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an apparatus for attachment to the open end of a hollow container to provide a rodent trap, comprising an annular device having a cylindrical wall of such inside dimension as to permit it to be snugly received on the open end of a container and a flat end wall having an opening therein which provides access to the interior of the container when the device is in place on the container, a cover for the opening in the flat end wall, said cover being pivoted thereto, a lug opening in the flat end wall communicating with the access opening therein, a lug on the closure positioned to extend into the lug opening in the end wall when the closure is in open position, a latch member comprising an elongated rod pivotally connected to the inside of the flat end wall and having a part engaging said lug when the closure is in open position to thereby hold the closure in open position, said latch also comprising an elongated rod part adapted to extend into the interior of the container, and a bait holder on the end of said rod part.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said bait holder comprises a flat sheet of perforated material bent to V-shape and one of he sides thereof having an outwardly extending lug having a hole therein by which the bait holder is mounted on the rod part. 

1. A trap for rodents comprising a hollow container having a closed end and an open end, an annular device surrounding the container and partially closing the open end thereof to leave an opening therein giving access to the interior of the container, a pivoted closure for the opening in the annular device, resilient means constantly urging the closure to a position closing the opening, a latch device normally holding the closure in open position against the force of the resilient means, and means within the container positioned to be engaged by a rodent therein and operable upon such engagement to release the latch to permit the resilient means to move the closure to its position closing said opening, said annular device having an elongated opening leading from the access opening therein, and a lug on the closure positioned to enter the elongated opening when the closure is in open position to be engaged by the latch to hold the closure in open position.
 2. A trap according to claim 1, in which the latch device comprises an elongated rod within the container, a bait holder on the inner end of the rod, a cross piece extending at right angles to the rod and pivotally mounted on the annular device to permit vertical movement of the rod and bait holder, and an upturned end on the cross piece positioned and adapted to engage the lug.
 3. As a neW article of manufacture, an apparatus for attachment to the open end of a hollow container to provide a rodent trap, comprising an annular device having a cylindrical wall of such inside dimension as to permit it to be snugly received on the open end of a container and a flat end wall having an opening therein which provides access to the interior of the container when the device is in place on the container, a cover for the opening in the flat end wall, said cover being pivoted thereto, a lug opening in the flat end wall communicating with the access opening therein, a lug on the closure positioned to extend into the lug opening in the end wall when the closure is in open position, a latch member comprising an elongated rod pivotally connected to the inside of the flat end wall and having a part engaging said lug when the closure is in open position to thereby hold the closure in open position, said latch also comprising an elongated rod part adapted to extend into the interior of the container, and a bait holder on the end of said rod part.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said bait holder comprises a flat sheet of perforated material bent to V-shape and one of he sides thereof having an outwardly extending lug having a hole therein by which the bait holder is mounted on the rod part. 